By default, Android shows notification text right on the lock screen. That is convenient — until someone glances at your phone on the bus and reads a personal message. The fix is a few taps away.
The privacy problem
Lock-screen notifications display sender and content without unlocking. On a lost or borrowed phone, that exposes OTPs, messages, and work alerts. Android gives you graduated control so you can keep alerts useful while hiding the sensitive parts.
Hide all sensitive content
- Open Settings → Notifications → Notifications on lock screen (path varies by maker).
- Choose Hide sensitive content: the sender shows, but the body is replaced with "Contents hidden".
- Or pick Don't show notifications at all for maximum privacy (you will only see them after unlocking).
On Samsung this lives under Settings → Lock screen → Notifications. On Pixel it is Settings → Notifications → Lock screen.
Per-app lock-screen control
You rarely need an all-or-nothing rule. Go to Settings → Notifications → App notifications → [app], then open its notification category (see our channels guide) and set Lock-screen to "Hide" for sensitive channels like personal messages, while leaving calendars visible.
Privacy with Pinnit
Pinnit is built private by design: notifications are handled on your device, with no account and no cloud sync. You decide what to pin, and pinned items live only on your phone. Combined with hidden lock-screen content, you get both convenience and peace of mind.